WASHINGTON TWP — Though he has lived in Alabama for more than 20 years, performing at the North Washington Rodeo is still a homecoming for Trent McFarland.

“This is one of the biggest and most important rodeos to me,” he said. “It's my hometown rodeo.”

The 37-year-old former Chicora resident tours the country 11 months of the year as a rodeo clown and is performing in North Washington for the second straight year. He is the entertainer and barrel-man, which includes telling jokes and keeping the crowd entertained in between other events.

The animals can sometimes be temperamental, so the clowns have to step in when the events are not going according to plan, said Dave Hazlet, rodeo chairman. “They have to entertain the crowd when there starts to be a lull in the action. They tell jokes and carry on and keep the crowds entertained,” Hazlet said. “He does an excellent job.”

Hazlet said that he had seen McFarland perform at other rodeos before booking him to come here and once saw him keep a crowd captivated for 40 minutes during technical difficulties that caused the stadium lights to go out.

The rodeo was part of McFarland's heritage from the time he was born.

His parents, Suzy and Sid McFarland, actually met at the North Washington Rodeo in 1975. He was a clown and she was an instructor with the local Flames and Flickers majorette group.

Growing up in the Chicora area, McFarland spent a lot of time at the rodeo and learned about being clown from his father.

When he was 9 years old, he got his first opportunity to perform in a rodeo when he was part of clown Quail Dobbs' act.

“From that moment on, I knew I wanted to be a rodeo clown,” he said.

He performed alongside his father for about 10 years before starting his own act. Many rodeo entertainers start out as bullfighters, the other clowns whose job it is to distract the bulls and protect fallen riders.

He also has worked over the years with North Washington Rodeo announcer Jerry Todd, who also hails from Alabama.

Though he never worked as a bullfighter, McFarland said that doesn't mean he hasn't seen his fair share of risk as an entertainer.

“I do stupid things at times. Being in the barrel is the biggest risk, I'm at the mercy of the bull and the bullfighter.”

About five years ago, he was doing a bit where he skied behind a horse and was thrown 14 feet in the air when things got out of hand. He managed to land on his feet, but suffered a shattered femur and a fractured elbow, which sidelined him for the rest of that rodeo season.

He moved away from Pennsylvania when he was 15, but he still has friends here from his days at Karns City High School. His mother, grandparents and other extended family also live in the area. He said he gets a boost from seeing a little cheering section that comes to see him in North Washington.

“It's been wonderful having him home here in North Washington where he can see family and friends,” Suzy McFarland said Wednesday. “I come from a very large family on my mother's side. Last night his 86-year-old aunt was there.”

McFarland lives near Montgomery, Ala., with his wife and two children. He usually is booked for rodeos from January through the end of November. He is a two-time national champion for comedy act at the International Finals Rodeo held each year in Oklahoma City.

Next weekend he is booked to perform in Ashland, Mo., and he will be in Ocala, Fla., the week after that. He also works as a registered nurse when not on the road.

He said he is thankful that he is able to make a living traveling the country and doing what he loves.

“Putting a smile on somebody's face is about as important a job as there is,” he said.

The North Washington Rodeo, now in its 58th year, continues Friday and Saturday night at the rodeo grounds on Route 38. The doors open at 6 p.m. and the show starts at 8 p.m.

Events include bareback bronc riding, calf roping, saddle bronc riding, steer wrestling, cowgirls' barrel racing, cowgirls' breakaway roping, team roping and bull riding.

New this year, world-class trick rider Dusti Crain will be performing.

An extra event starting at 6 p.m. Sunday will be the Bulls, Broncs and Barrels show. The proceeds support the North Washington Volunteer Fire Department.

More information is available at www.nwvfd.com.